News & Updates

Do You Have Toxic Houseplants?

Like many people seeking enrichment during the COVID-19 pandemic, I sought discovery of new hobbies including indoor plant cultivation. I started with a few houseplants. Their growth and beauty would be a physical reflection of hard work and some much needed signs of positivity. I attempted brief research on these starter plants, focusing on water…

Plants for Gardening or Gift Giving During the Holiday Season

With the holiday season in full swing, there are many ways to incorporate gardening into your holiday festivities. One of the most common ways is to use holiday plants as house/garden décor or even gift-giving. Surprisingly, Florida’s climate is suitable for many popular holiday plants. The important part is learning how to care for these…

Plants at Their Peak: Red Cedar, the Superior Holiday Evergreen!

‘Norfolk Island’ Pines being sold locally compared to tastefully decorated Red Cedars at the 2023 Green Living ExpoWhy you should choose Native Red Cedar Over Norfolk Island Pines for a Florida-Friendly Holiday Season   As the holiday season approaches, many households eagerly purchase festive plants. One commonly purchased plant for the season is the ‘Norfolk…

Unearthing the Benefits of Hydroponic Lettuce

This blog was written by Luis Acosta, a 4-H Teen Ambassador in Miami-Dade County. “Eat Your Greens!” Most people have heard this saying several times throughout their childhood. Leafy greens are good for the human body because of their rich nutritional value in vitamins, minerals, and fiber. With technological innovations, modern farmers have begun to grow…

Plants for Gardening or Gift Giving During the Holiday Season

Written by Samantha Walter-Cano, Edited by Olivia Zugay With the holiday season in full swing, there are many ways to incorporate gardening into your holiday festivities. One of the most common ways is to use holiday plants as house/garden décor or even gift-giving. Surprisingly, Florida’s climate is suitable for many popular holiday plants. The important…

Cottonmouths of Our Barrier Islands

I am going to end 2023 with an article on a project I hope to conduct in 2024.  It will focus on insular cottonmouths and will focus on the western panhandle, though those in the eastern panhandle might be interested and could help.  For obvious reasons, conducting this project as a citizen science one is…

Adventurous, young people most likely to try lamb, goat

For Floridians looking to cut down on beef and pork, lamb and goat meat have proven to be a welcome addition to their plates. But figuring out who wants to buy these meats and how much people are willing to pay for them can be tricky. University of Florida researchers found that Florida consumers most…

Controlling “Florida Snow” in St. Augustinegrass Lawns

“Florida Snow” The weed now commonly called “Florida snow” is Richardia grandiflora, a creeping perennial that reproduces by seeds and stem fragments. There are three other Richardias, or pusleys, found in Florida, none of which are native to the state. “Florida Snow” becomes most evident in the fall and winter when flowering reaches its peak. Florida Snow typical of some…

Bougainvillea are daytime beacons of color

Bougainvillea Trained Up A PergolaWhat is catching my eye in our landscapes these days?  Bright and beautiful bougainvillea, of course!  Bougainvillea are blooming profusely right now and will continue on through the winter for eight weeks or more.  Perfect as a flowering vine, the bougainvillea is also adaptable as a hedge, in hanging baskets, an…

The Connection Between Nutrition and Immunity

How the Right Foods Can Boost Your Immune System During Flu Season We all know that eating healthy is good for us. But did you know that certain foods can help keep us from getting sick, especially during flu season? In this blog, we’ll dive into the connection between what we eat and how well…

Soil and Its Hidden Treasures

Soil! Does it sound fascinating to you? Maybe it should. We take our soil for granted. We even call it “dirt”. But soil is actually pretty magical. It is full of wonderful living microorganisms. They are microscopic, so we can’t see them, but they are there.  A teaspoon of good soil can hold up to one…

Seed Saving from the Garden: part 1 of 2

For thousands of years, in an unbroken chain, seeds have been saved from each harvest to be sown the next season. Seed saving provides many benefits to the seed saver. The costs of seeds has notably risen in the past several years, but more importantly the reliable availability of seeds has come into question. Taking…
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